Christian party wants secular Syrian government
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Christian political parties want Syria to be a secular state, a politician told Rudaw on Saturday.
Sanharib Barsoum, co-chair of the Syriac Union Party, said his party and the Assyrian Democratic Organization have been working together for three years to formulate a united position and have focused on key political and national principles.
“Our vision focuses on the most important political principles at the national level. First, the state must be decentralized. We have rejected tribal and centralized state rule and we strive for a secular and civil state,” he said.
There are concerns especially among minorities about what the future Syrian state will look like as the new authorities in Damascus have their roots in Islamic jihad.
Barsoum said the Christian parties have not had any direct meetings with the de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.
“However, there is a plan for a joint delegation of these parties to jointly visit Damascus and visit the Sharaa administration,” he added.
He expects the meeting will take place "next week."
Sanharib Barsoum, co-chair of the Syriac Union Party, said his party and the Assyrian Democratic Organization have been working together for three years to formulate a united position and have focused on key political and national principles.
“Our vision focuses on the most important political principles at the national level. First, the state must be decentralized. We have rejected tribal and centralized state rule and we strive for a secular and civil state,” he said.
There are concerns especially among minorities about what the future Syrian state will look like as the new authorities in Damascus have their roots in Islamic jihad.
Barsoum said the Christian parties have not had any direct meetings with the de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.
“However, there is a plan for a joint delegation of these parties to jointly visit Damascus and visit the Sharaa administration,” he added.
He expects the meeting will take place "next week."
The Syriac Union Party is affiliated with the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava). It holds three seats in the Rojava government and has its own police force named Sutoro (security in Syriac).
The number of Christians in Syria has significantly dwindled since the start of the civil war over a decade ago. Attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) and Turkish-backed militants have helped to push the community to the brink of extinction.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in his visit to Syria on Friday met with Christian religious leaders in Damascus.
Barsoum said it was good that Barrot met with them. “France always supports Christians,” he said.
Barsoum said it was good that Barrot met with them. “France always supports Christians,” he said.